'Different' Morrison provides Northern Ireland with new option

Kieran Morrison made his first international start as Northern Ireland beat Ukraine 3-0 in the Nations League in Trnava, Slovakia on 3 October 2026, providing the assist for Isaac Price's second goal.

The 19-year-old Liverpool winger, who is spending this season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, was one of three changes manager Michael O'Neill made for the game and was deployed in an inside forward role off the right. Morrison had been an unused substitute for Northern Ireland's first two Group B2 matches, games in which the side took four points against Georgia and Hungary, before being handed his first start in Trnava. He provided the cross that Price nodded home for his 11th international goal.

Morrison said he had been patient for the opportunity. "I've been biding my time after the first two games," he told BBC Sport NI's Gavin Andrews. "I was training well, working hard and I'm glad he [O'Neill] trusts me enough to give me the start. I think I did well enough."

Price described Morrison's impact and the role selection around the striker. "Thought he was really good," said Price of Morrison. "He's a different threat than what we have had before. A really good crosser of the ball and he has come in and given the manager a headache with a game on Monday." While Price is nailed on for one of the roles behind the central striker in O'Neill's preferred system, Morrison staked a claim to the other.

Morrison detailed the passage that led to the assist, saying he had not intended to cross on that occasion. "To be fair I wasn't going to cross it," he said. "I was like 'OK, get the ball and do some stepovers', but it was just set it back to me and I whipped it in and Isaac was there. Every time I got the ball, I was just trying to make something happen."

On his international eligibility and club form, Morrison has represented England at underage level but qualifies for Northern Ireland through his Newry-born mother and made two senior Liverpool appearances last season. He said he hopes to retain a place for the next match and to experience a first home outing with the national side.

"It's going to be great," said Morrison. "I've never played at Windsor Park. Hopefully I get the start, if I don't get the start, hopefully I come on and impact it."

Northern Ireland sit top of Group B2 with seven points from three games, and they face Georgia at Windsor Park on Monday night.